Abstract

Water-soluble polymers containing carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups were investigated as polychelatogens under different experimental conditions in view to study their metal ion binding properties, using the liquid-phase polymer-based retention technique. The divalent metal ions investigated were: Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+;. When the pH increased above 3, and especially at pH 5, metal ion retention capability increased as the majority of the functional groups are carboxylate, which can form more stable complexes with the metal ions. The retention capability also depended on the structure of the polyacid and the filtration factor, Z. Copyright © 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.